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2. Theory of Readability
According to Sakri qtd. in Nababan, 1999: 62, readability refers to the degree of naturally of a text that can be read and understood. The naturalness can
be seen when the target text is understandable for the readers. In short, readability focuses on how written materials can be read easily. The choice of word is
important because it will be easy to understand if the translator uses the correct
word.
Nida qtd. in Munday 2001: 42 put four basic requirements of translation, namely:
1. Making sense;
2. Conveying the spirit and manner of the original;
3. Having a natural and easy form expression;
4. Producing a similar response.
3. Theory of Romantic Elements
Stanford argues that romantic elements are expressions that covers: the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings in a character 1999: 177 and
perfected description of passion 1999: 218. Based on Stanford, it can be referred that romantic elements are expressions that promote powerful affection and
passion among the characters in the romantic text.
4. Theory of Language and Gender
West and Zimmerman qtd. in Eckert and McConell-Ginet 2003: 10 state that “gender is not something we are born with, and not something we have,
bu t something we do.” From that theory, it means that gender is not defined based
on a birth lottery. According to Crawford 1995: 13, gender influences several aspects including language. It means that women and men have differences
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including their ways of using language. Lakoff qtd. in Crawford, 1995: 24 states that
linguistic behavior reflects hidden feelings and attitudes, and is especially useful in revealing them because „linguistic data are there, in black and
white, or on tape, unambiguous and unavoidable. Based on the quotation above, it means that hidden feelings or attitudes
can be reflected or seen through the language that is used by both male and female. Therefore, in this study, the examination of the female translator that
reveals a hidden feeling or attitude can be done through their translation of romantic elements.
Related to the linguistic behavior, Eckert and McConell-Ginet 2003: 140 state
that “women as most interested in promoting intimacy with others, in strengthening affiliative bonds among
people, in promoting solidarity”. It is also elaborated by Eckert and McConnell-Ginet that
women are “affiliative and eager to promote the right kind of warm fuzzy feelings, to downplay their individual
aims and ambitions” 2003: 141. Based on their points, it validates the initial assumption that women tend to be more “intimate” in using language due to their
eagerness in promoting the feelings instead of ambitions. The usage of language includes translating romantic elements in a text.
On the other hand, according to Eckert and McConell-Ginet 2003: 141, “men, in contrast, are seen as most interested in establishing their independence
from others, their autonomy”. Eckert and McConell-Ginet 2003: 140 also state that “male instrumentality is associated with reason and female affect with
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emotion”. In other words, male tend to portray reasons in conveying their ideas rather than emotions to show their autonomy.
5. “Women’s” Language
For women, in order to achieve their goal of promoting intimacy and feelings in translating romantic elements, Talbot argues that there are several
features that are employed by women, namely: a.
Promotion of Weakness
Talbot argues that “women use language in a distinctive way, notable for its uncertainty, powerlessness, and weakness” 2010: 36. In other words, it means
that rather than showing independence or autonomy, women tend to show the sense of weakness or powerlessness represented through their distinctive way of
using language.
b. Affective Adjectives
According to Talbot, women tend to use words to show “affective meaning to show expressive feelings, not referential meanings that refer to some
objects” 2010: 36. Lakoff elaborates that such adjectives are used “in expressing approval or admiration, many are strongly marked as feminine, such as divine,
adorable, charming, or other affective adjectives qtd. in Talbot, 2010: 36. In brief, another feature that is employed by women to represent intimacy or promote
a certain feeling is through the affective adjectives. For instance, the promotion of feelings can be seen in admiring certain things or events using affective
adjectives.
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